Philippe Lucas MA is a Victoria City Councillor and member of the Board of the Capital Regional District, where his focus has been social justice issues such as harm reduction, homelessness, environmental sustainability and food security. He is Chair of the City of Victoria Environmental Sustainability Standing Committee, and a member of the Community Development Standing Committee. Additionally, Philippe is Vice-Chair of the CRD Housing Corporation, and a member of the CRD Environmental Sustainability Committee, Core Area Liquid Waste Committee, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and is a Trustee on the Greater Victoria Cemetery Board.
His educational background includes a Master’s in Studies in Policies and Practice from UVic, a secondary teaching certificate from UVic, and a degree in English Literature from Carleton University. He is an active social researcher with a focus on substance use and addiction, and a Research Affiliate with the Center for Addictions Research of BC. Additionally, he is co-owner of Compassionate Consulting, a public health research consultancy, and Hip Baby, a local safe/sustainable kids shop located in downtown Victoria.
Philippe has always enjoys a great amount of community involvement and currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia, and is a Board Member of the Vancouver Island School of Art and the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. A long-time organic gardener and former professional cook, Philippe is co-founder of the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society and Coordinator of the successful annual Eat Here Now Harvest Festival.
Philippe is also a proud husband and father. His lovely wife Mary has an MA in Art History from UVic and is the co-owner and Manager of Hip Baby Victoria, and his 3-year-old daughter Sophie loves dancing, pasta and the color pink.
Awards and Achievements:
Graduate Research Fellowship – Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia, 2006-2008.
UVic Blue and Gold Award for academic achievement, volunteerism and community service. University of Victoria, 2007.
Vancouver Island Civil Liberties Association Leadership Award, 2002
Land Conservancy’s Top 50 BC Heroes
Curriculum Vitae
Philippe G. Lucas
1104 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC
V8T 2M7
Telephone: (250) 370-0981
Work: (250) 381-8427
Cell: (250) 884-9821
Email: phil@thevics.com
D.O.B.: July 24th, 1969
EDUCATION
University of Victoria – Master’s in Studies in Policy and Practice
- completed 12/09
University of Victoria – Post-Degree Certificate in Secondary Education (English and Theatre)
- completed 04/97
- member of the Student Teacher Advisory Committee
- member of the Secondary Program Council (overseeing the reform of
the Department of Education Secondary Program)
Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario) – B.A. English Literature – 1991
LANGUAGES
Fluently bilingual in English and French
WORK EXPERIENCE
Eat Here Now 2011 Local Food Harvest Festival (www.victoriapublicmarket.ca) – Victoria, B.C.
Jan. 2011-October 2011
Coordinator for local food harvest festival that took place on Sept. 11th and was attended by nearly 10,000 area residents, with proceeds going towards a needs assessment study and the development of a business case for a downtown public market. The event featured a large farmers’ market; a restaurant section featuring chefs preparing food with local ingredients; a regional beer/wine/cider tasting area; local musicians and DJs and a kids zone hosted by food-related non-profits.
Victoria City Council (www.victoria.ca) Capital Regional District Board – Victoria, BC.
November 2008-November 2011
Elected member of the Victoria City Council and Capital Regional District Board. Current responsibilities and appointments include:
- Chair – City of Victoria Environment and Infrastructure Standing Committee.
- City of Victoria Community Development Standing Committee.
- Liaison to Victoria Youth Council.
- CRD Board of Directors.
- CRD Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee.
- CRD Hospital District Board.
- Vice-Chair, CRD Housing Corporation Board.
- CRD Environment Committee.
- CRD Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
Compassionate Consulting Inc. – Victoria, B.C.
January 2007 to present
Company created to encompass various consultation projects, including designing research protocols addressing substance use and addiction, working with the Israeli Ministry of Health on their medical cannabis program, and supplying expert opinion for a number of court challenges focused on cannabis production, distribution and medical use.
Current projects include coordinating and acting as co-investigator in an observational study examining the potential of ayahuasca-assisted therapy to treat addiction and compulsive behaviours, and acting as Primary Investigator in a four site survey protocol examining “substitution effect” and associated harm reduction in medical cannabis users in British Columbia. Please see “Research” below for details.
Eat Here Now Local Food Harvest Festival (www.victoriapublicmarket.ca) – Victoria, B.C.
June 2010-October 2010
Coordinator for local food harvest festival attended by over 5000 area residents, with proceeds going to the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society to assist in re-establishing a downtown public produce market in Victoria. The event featured a large farmers’ market; a restaurant section featuring chefs preparing food with local ingredients; a regional beer/wine/cider/mead tasting area; local musicians and DJs and a kids zone hosted by food-related non-profits. Additionally, the event led to the development of a new winter produce market beginning in 2010 in Victoria, and Eat Here Now 2 is scheduled for Sept. 11th, 2011.
Vancouver Island Compassion Society (www.thevics.com) – Victoria, BC.
October 1999 to October 2009.
Founder and Director – duties included running day-to-day operations of non-profit medicinal cannabis organization. Extensive media experience, including the CBC TV National News, CBC Radio1, BBC Radio, local and international newspapers, and national magazine publications such as McLean’s Magazine. A documentary on the organization, titled “Crimes of Compassion” continues to air nationally on Global Television. Presentations included the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, Office of Cannabis Medical Access Advisory Committee, AIDS Vancouver Island, Comosun College, the BC Homeopathic Physicians Organization – as well as organizing a full day seminar on the planning and implementation of a medicinal cannabis dispensary. Duties also included an extensive research agenda (see “Research” below).
DrugSense (www.drugsense.org) – Porterville, California
March 2001 to July 2010
Director of Communications for California-based drug policy think-tank, & Editor of Hemp and Cannabis Issues for DrugSense Weekly eNewsletter (2001-2006). As Director of Communications, duties include establishing and maintaining media contacts regarding drug policy reform issues, creating outreach documents and resources, as well as fostering a cooperative relationship between the press, international activists, and reform organizations. As Editor of Hemp and Cannabis Issues for the weekly DrugSense e-Newsletter, I selected and commented the week’s top cannabis related international news stories.
Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia – Victoria, BC
September – December 2006
Contracted research associate on cannabis substitution effect literature review and meta-study.
Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies – Ben Lomond, CA
October 2005 – August 2006
Research advisor on ibogaine protocol titled “Observational case series study of the long-term efficacy of Ibogaine-assisted therapy and associated interventions in participants with opiate addiction treated at the Iboga Therapy House”
Americans for Safe Access – San Francisco, CA
May 2006 – June 2006
Updated research and medical information in ASA’s condition-based booklets for medical cannabis use (http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=135)
Canadians for Safe Access (www.safeaccess.ca) – Canada
March 2003 to present
Founder and Director of national grassroots, action-oriented, medicinal cannabis patients rights organization. Actions have included organizing protests and press conferences (OCMA Advisory Committee, Montreal – May 2003; Parliament Buildings, Ottawa – July 2003), and federal accountability through scientific testing of the govt. grown supply of cannabis. Responsibilities include public relations, press relations, and planning.
Professional Accountability Project – Marijuana Policy Project (Washington, D.C.)
February 2002-June 2003
Project Coordinator and Director of Research – This project aims to bring a scientific approach to drug reform by ensuring that statements made by physicians and researchers regarding recreational and medical drug use (especially cannabis) follow the current scientific knowledge.
Elizabeth Buckley School - Victoria, BC.
September 1999 to July 2000
French teacher for grade 2 and 3 students in progressive alternative school setting.
Esquimalt Secondary School – Victoria, BC.
January 1997 to May 1997
Practicum placement. Taught English 8 & 9, and Theatre 9/10.
PUBLICATIONS
Zeisser C, Thompson K, Stockwell T, Duff C, Chow C, Vallance K, Ivsins A, Michelow W, Marsh D, Lucas P. (2011). A “standard joint”? The role of quantity in predicting cannabis-related problems. Addiction Research and Theory. In Press.
Stockwell T, Vallance K, Martin G, Macdonald S, Ivsins A, Chow C, Greer A, Zhao J, Duff C, Lucas P, Marsh D, Michelow W, Treno A. (2010) The price of getting high, stoned and drunk in BC: A comparison of minimum prices for alcohol and other psychoactive substances. CARBC Statistical Bulletin #7. Victoria, British Columbia: University of Victoria.
Lucas, P. (2010). Patient-centered strategies to counter stigma, oppression and forced incarceration in the C/S/X and medical cannabis movements. Interface: a journal for and about social movements. Volume 2 (2): pp.149 – 167.
Lucas P. (2009). What do we know about cannabis? Visions; BC’s Mental Health and Addictions Journal. Guest editor (and editorial) for Vol. 5, No. 4.
Lucas P. (2009). Moral regulation and the presumption of guilt in Health Canada’s medical cannabis policy and practice. Int J Drug Policy. Vol. 20, Issue 4, Pages 296-303.
Westfall R, Hathaway AD, Erickson G, Lucas P. (2008). Canadian public opinion on cannabis; how far out of step with it is the existing law? Canadian Review of Social Policy, No. 59; pp.44-55.
Lucas, PG. (2008). Regulating compassion: an overview of Canada’s federal medical cannabis policy and practice. Harm Reduction Journal. 5:5. doi:10.1186/1477-7517-5-5.
R, Janssen P, Lucas P, Capler R. (2006). Survey of medicinal cannabis use among childbearing women: patterns of its use in pregnancy and retroactive self-assessment of its efficacy against ‘morning sickness’. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Feb;12(1):27-33.
RESEARCH
Observational study of ayahuasca-assisted therapy for addiction and patterns of dependence
January 2010 – present
Coordinator and co-researcher (Gerald Thomas is PI) of a study examining the outcomes of ayahuasca-assisted therapy on compulsive behaviours. The protocol received ethics approval in Feb. 2011, and data gathering is expected to be completed by March 2012.
Cannabis as a Substitute for Alcohol and Other Drugs; A Compassion Club-Based Survey of Substitution Effect in Canadian Medical Cannabis Patients
Feb. 2010 – present
Coordinator and PI of study examining self-assessed changes in licit and illicit substance use of 400 medical cannabis patients in BC. Data gathering for the study was completed in Feb. 2011. Data analysis completed; paper under development.
Quality of Service Assessment of Health Canada’s Marihuana Medical Access Division – McMaster University/CAR BC. December 2006 – present
Co-Investigator (with Dr. Andrew Hathaway) of an end-user assessment of the federal medical cannabis program. This project is funded by the McMaster Arts Research Council. Final paper submitted for publication.
Changes in the use of pharmaceutical opiates in chronic pain sufferers newly-registered with a community-based medical cannabis dispensary
- VICS/UVic/Center for Addiction Research of British Columbia.
July 2006-May 2008
Principle Investigator in a pre-test, post-test study of the changes in licit and illicit substance use patterns in new members of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, with a focus on the use of pharmaceutical opiates – Master’s Thesis research project.
Cannabis use as self-medication: A study of Canadian compassion clubs and clients – VICS/Canadian Center for Addiction and Mental Health.
2006-2007
Co-investigator on ethnographic examination of the members and customers of community-based medicinal cannabis distribution organizations.
Survey of medicinal cannabis use among childbearing women: patterns of its use in pregnancy and retroactive self-assessment of its efficacy against ‘morning sickness’ – UVic/VICS/BCCCS.
2005-2006.
Co-investigator in retroactive survey of women who used cannabis during pregnancy. PI is Rachel Janssen PhD, study sponsored by UVic and Michael Smith. Findings were published Journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
A comparison of the effects of smoked whole-plant cannabis of different THC concentrations in non-treatment naive patients with chronic pain – The Vancouver Island Compassion Society
September 2003 – present
PI in examination of the effects of smoked cannabis on chronic pain.
The Effects of Cannabis Use on Hepatitis C and Interferon/Ribovarin Treatment. – VICS/BCCCS/Dr. Sylvestre (University of California, San Francisco).
May 2002 – Sept. 2005
Co-investigator on survey protocol examining increases in the success rate of interferon/ribovarin treatment on hepatitis c.
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Cannabis as Therapy for People Living With HIV/AIDS – Canadian AIDS Society
Spring 2005-June 2006
Steering Committee member of federally-funded study of the human rights and ethical concerns of HIV/AIDS sufferers in accessing medicinal cannabis. The study’s final results were released in June of 2006.
Observational case series study of the long-term efficacy of Ibogaine-assisted therapy and associated interventions in participants with opiate addiction treated at the Iboga Therapy House – Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies.
October 2005 – August 2006
Contract consultant on protocol investigating changes in opiate use following treatment at Iboga Therapy House.
PRESENTATIONS & CONSULTATIONS
Out of Mind; The Therapeutic Application of Psychedelics in the Treatment of PTSD and Addiction
Sept. 13th, 2011. Victoria BC
Coordinated and hosted presentations by Dr. Gabor Maté and Rick Doblin Phd on the use of ayahuasca to treat addiction and MDMA to treat PTSD. The event was a fundraiser for MAPS Canada research.
Health Canada Consultation on Proposed Regulatory Changes to the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations
Sept. 7th, 2011. Vancouver BC.
Represented Canadians for Safe Access at consultation hosted by Health Canada on proposed changes to the federal medical cannabis programme.
CannaMed Medical Cannabis Conference
February 2011, Vancouver BC.
Organized, moderated and presented on a panel examining medical cannabis research and legal reform in BC. Other panel members included Dr. Manju Sharma PhD, Michael Vonn (BCCLA), and Rielle Capler MHA.
Greater Victoria Anti-Stigma Week Academic Panel
February 2011, Victoria BC.
Coordinated and moderated an academic panel on stigma associated with drug use for Greater Victoria Anti-Stigma Week that featured Cecilia Benoit PhD, Susan Boyd PhD and Lynne Belle-Isle PhD Candidate.
University of Victoria Poverty Law Society Panel on Harm Reduction and Homelessness
October 2010, University of Victoria, BC.
Presented on a panel examining local policies and practices around harm reduction and homelessness.
Consultation with Health Canada re. Medical Cannabis
July 2010, Vancouver BC.
Coordinator/presenter for a consultation re. medical cannabis with Cathy Sabiston, Director General Controlled Substances & Tobacco Directorate of Health Canada
6th Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
April 2010, Providence, Rhode Island.
“It Can’t Hurt to Ask; Assessing Medical Cannabis Patient Needs in Canada”
Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century
April 2010, San Jose California.
“Regaining Internal Freedom; An Observational Study of Ayahuasca-Assisted Addictions Therapy”
Columbia Institute Center for Civic Governance Annual Conference
April, 2010. Harrison Hot Springs BC.
Organized, moderated and presented on a panel on municipal harm reduction strategies that included Donald MacPherson and David Bratzer.
“Hometown Harm Reduction: what municipalities can do to reduce the harms associated with problematic substance use”
Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Dec. 2009. Ottawa, Ont.
“Presentation on the impact of Bill C-15 on Canadian medical cannabis patients”
Drug Policy Alliance International Reform Conference
Nov. 2009. Albuquerque, NM.
“Medical Marijuana Research and Policy: The Latest Developments”
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference
Oct. 2009. Vancouver, B.C.
“Community-University Research Into Medical Cannabis;
A Patient-Centered Approach Towards Progressive Social Change”
International Cannabinoid Research Society
July 2009. St. Charles, Il.
Poster Presentation: “A patient survey of Canada’s Medical Cannabis Program”
Canadian House of Commons Justice Committee
May 2009. Ottawa, ON.
Presentation on the impact of Bill C-15 on Canadian medical cannabis patients.
Center for Addictions Research of B.C. CIHR NET Cross-Substance Studies Meeting
July 2008. Victoria, B.C.
“Cannabis and Pharmaceutical Opiate Use for Chronic Pain; Gateway, Substitute or Synergy?”
Canadian Social Science Congress
University of British Columbia. June 5th, 2008.
“Community-Based Research of Medical Cannabis; A Patient-Centered Approach Towards Progressive Social Change”
Community-University Expo, University of Victoria
April, 2008.
“Community-University Research Into Medical Cannabis; A Patient-Centered Approach Towards Progressive Social Change”.
5th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
April, 2008. Asilomar, California.
“Crimes of Compassion; the Benefits of Non-Profit Medical Cannabis Access”.
State of New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program consultation
March 3rd, 2008.
Offices of Rothstein, Donatelli, Hughes, Dahlstrom, Schoenburg and Bienvenu.
United Nations General Assembly NGO Consultation.
February 4th & 5th, 2008. Vancouver, BC.
York University National Harm Reduction Advisory Committee Consultation.
January 21st, 2008.
Drug Policy Alliance Conference 2007
December 2007, New Orleans
Moderated and presented on a panel titled “Northern Exposure – Cutting Edge Medical Cannabis Research and Legal Reform in Canada”. Presentation was titled “Regulating Compassion; An Overview of Canada’s Medical Cannabis Policy and Practice”
International Association for Cannabis as Medicines
October 2007. Cologne, Germany.
“Regulating Compassion; An Overview of Canada’s Medical Cannabis Policy and Practice”
Israeli Ministry of Health and Tikun Olam
August 2007 – Present. Tel Aviv, Israel
Consultation with Dr. Yahuda Baruch, chief administrator of Israel’s medical cannabis program. Further consultations took place with Tsachi Cohen, Executive Director of Tikun Olam, a medical cannabis production and distribution non-profit organization licensed by the Israeli Ministry of Health to produce and distribute cannabis for authorized medical users in Israel.
Ministry of Children and Family Development
June 2007– Sept. 2007. Victoria, B.C.
Consultation with Sheldon Kitzul, Policy Analyst with the Practice Development Unit Integrated Policy and Legislation Child Welfare Policy Team, in regards to the real and imagined dangers of cannabis cultivation facilities, with a focus on children.
International Cannabinoid Research Society
June 2007 – St. Sauveur, Que.
Poster presentation titled “Regulating Compassion; An Overview of Canada’s Medical Cannabis Policy and Practice”
Deconstructing Empire II
June 2007 – University of Victoria. Victoria, B.C.
“Regulating Compassion; An Overview of Health Canada’s Medical Cannabis Policy and Practice”
Human and Social Development Spring Research Day
April 2007 – University of Victoria. Victoria, B.C.
“The Community-Based Research and Distribution of Cannabis; A Patient-Centered, Public Health Approach”
Canadian AIDS Society and Canadian Harm Reduction Network
April 2007 – Winnipeg, SK
Federally-funded consultation on harm reduction practices in small and medium-sized cities.
Public Health Association of B.C. Conference
November 2006 – Vancouver, B.C.
“The Community-Based Research and Distribution of Cannabis; A Patient-Centered, Public Health Approach”
National Harm Reduction Coalition Conference
November 2006 – Oakland, CA
“The Community-Based Research and Distribution of Cannabis; A Patient-Centered, Public Health Approach”
International Harm Reduction Association Conference
May 2006 – Vancouver, B.C.
“Regulating Compassion, A 5-Year Overview of Canada’s Medical Cannabis Policy and Program”.
Fourth Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
April 2006 – Santa Barbara, CA
Presented results of nausea and pregnancy study published in Journal of Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
NORML Annual Conference 2006
April 2006 – San Francisco, CA
Organized and chaired panel on Canadian Medical Cannabis Research, and presented results of nausea and pregnancy study published in Journal of Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Drug Policy Alliance Conference 2005
November 2005 – Long Beach, CA
Chaired panel on Canadian cannabis research, and presented on a recently completed nausea and pregnancy study (please see above).
Entheogenesis 2
May 2005; Vancouver, B.C.
Forbidden Knowledge – The Renaissance of Medicinal Cannabis Research in the
21st Century
Canadian Public Health Association
April 2005; Vancouver, B.C.
Cannabis Use and Driving Consultation
NORML Annual Conference 2005
April 2005 – San Francisco, CA
Chaired panel on Canadian Issues titled: “Oh Canada! Separating the Myth From Reality”
Research panel presentation: “Forbidden Knowledge: Cannabis Research by Compassion Clubs Under Prohibition”
3rd National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics
May 2004 – Charlottesville, Virginia
“Forbidden Knowledge: Cannabis Research in Canada Under Prohibition”
BC Civil Liberties Association “Beyond Prohibition” Conference
May 2004 – Vancouver, BC
“Forbidden Knowledge: Cannabis Research Under Prohibition”
NORML Annual Conference 2004
April 2004 – Washington, DC
“What the Government Won’t Tell You About Their Cannabis”
Entheogenesis Conference
February 2004 – Vancouver, BC
“Science, Spirituality and Compassion: The Modern Cultivation of An Ancient Healing Plant”
Drug Policy Alliance Conference
November 2003 – New Jersey, NY
“The Vancouver Island Compassion Society Research Plan”
“Medical Marijuana in Canada: Good Pot, Great Research, Poor Policies”
House of Commons Special Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs
October 2003 – Ottawa, Ontario
Presentation on behalf of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society and Canada’s Medical Cannabis Community
American Association of Pain Management Symposium
September 2003 – Denver, Colorado
“The Vancouver Island Compassion Society Therapeutic Cannabis Research Plan”
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs
September 2002 – Burnaby B.C.
Presentation on behalf of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society and Canada’s Medical Cannabis Community
VOLUNTEER WORK
Victoria Downtown Public Market Society – 02/09 – present
Harm Reduction Victoria – 03/08 – 11/09
FoodRoots - Quadra Village Farmers Market – 02/07 – 02/09
Committee to End Homelessness in Victoria – 09/06 – 11/09
Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society of Victoria – 11/06 – 06/07
BOARD POSITIONS/AWARDS/OTHER
Executive Committee – Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
March 2010-present
Research Affiliate – Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia
2010-2013
Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia – Advisory Board
2005 – present
Graduate Research Fellow – Center for Addictions Research of British Columbia
2006-2008.
York University Harm Reduction National Program Advisory Committee
York University. October 2007 – present
Trustee – Greater Victoria Cemetery Board
2010-present
Victoria Downtown Public Market Society – Board of Directors
2010-present
Vancouver Island School of Art – Board of Directors
January 2010-present
Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies Canada – Board of Directors
January 2010 – present
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policies – Board of Directors
October 2009-present
Vancouver Island Compassion Society – Board of Directors
1999-present
City of Victoria Downtown Advisory Committee
Member and Vice-Chair, 2003-2006.
Americans for Safe Access Medical Advisory Board
2005 – present
Blue and Gold Award of the University of Victoria 2007
Award for academic achievement, volunteerism and community service.
Vancouver Island Civil Liberties Association Leadership Award
2002
